Hat support

ABSTRACT

A holding, storing and shape-maintaining device for a western hat embodying, as usual, a high crown encompassed by a contoured brim having forward and rearward down-bent end portions and longitudinal side portions bordered with forwardly converging inwardly curled edge portions. This device comprises a panel whose truncated triangulate body portion supportively seats the crown-equipped brim. The longitudinal edge portions of the panel are provided with turned-in overhanging flaps in which the curled edge portions are conformingly nested, retentively sheathed and shaped. Forward upper corner portions of the flaps are adjustably laced together to retain the hat in a captive but manually removable state.

United States Patent [191 James 1 June 5, 1973 [54] HAT SUPPORT Primary Emmi-Pow. v. Larkin [75] Inventor: Frank R. James, Comanche, Okla. At-wmey Harvey Jacobson [73] Assignee: Western Hat Corral C0., Comanche, 57 A T Okla. A holding, storing and shape-maintaining device for a Flledi 1971 western hat embodying, as usual, a high crown encom- Appl. No.: 187,085

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1950 Pfeil ..'...21 1/32 9/l968 Moreau ..223/84 passed by a contoured brim having forward and rearward down-bent end portions and longitudinal side portions bordered with forwardly converging inwardly curled edge portions. This device comprises a panel whose truncated triangulate body portion supportiv'ely seats the crown-equipped brim. The longitudinal edge portions of the panel are provided with turned-in overhanging flaps in which the curled edge portions are conformingly nested, retentively sheathed and shaped. Forward upper corner portions of the flaps are adjustably laced together to retain the hat in a captive but manually removable state.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUH 51975 3.787, 081

HAT SUPPORT The present invention relates to a holding, storing and protective-type device which is fashioned and formed from appropriate pliable sheet material and which is expressly designed and uniquely adapted for temporary reception and retention of a western hat and which permits the hat to be captively sheathed therein and which embodies oriented features forcontouring and maintaining the hat, particularly the brim thereof, in its given shape.

The idea of providing and utilizing appropriately contoured forms for protectively maintaining hats which are set aside for convenient use is not new in the field of endeavor under consideration. For background purposes, reference can be made to the hat shaping device disclosed in the U.S. Pat. granted to Wilfred J. Moreau, No. 3,402,865, and a similar but less significant portable hat holder coveredvin U.S. Pat. No. 2,494,487 issued to Earnest W. Pfeil.

Western hats which are currently in use have forward and rearward down-bent terminal end portions and longitudinal side portions which are bordered with forwardly converging inwardly curled overhanging edge portions. An object of the present invention is to provide a simple, practical and feasible holder and retainer which satisfactorily lends itself to acceptable use in the field of endeavor herein under consideration and which is such in construction and adaptability that it determines not only the desired shaping of the curled edge portions of the brim but the forward and backward end portions relative to the main or horizontal portion of the brim.

Briefly the innovation herein comprehended has to do with a portable reusable holding, storing and shapeapplying and maintaining device for a readily applicable and removable western hat. This device is preferably but not necessarily made from plastic or pliable sheet material which is shaped, bent and curled in such a manner that when the currently usable western-type hat is inserted and captively sheathed therein the prescribed contour and shape of the hat is assured and maintained. To the ends desired, the device is characterized by a simple moldable panel having a body por tion atop which the brim of the hat can be supportively seated. The opposite marginal edge portions of the body portion have complemental means for conformingly nesting and sheathing the customary inwardly curled edge portions of the brim in a manner to protectively preserve the given shape thereof.

In carrying out a preferred embodiment of the invention the nesting and shaping flaps not only increase in width or height from the rear to the forward ends but have forward corner portions which are apertured to accommodate a flexible tying element, that is, one which can be laced back and forth with its ends tied to adjustably position and retain the corner portions.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a portable reusable holding, storing and shape-maintaining device constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention and showing how it is constructed and is rendered serviceable for positioning and retaining the insertable and removable western hat.

FIG. 2 is a view on a slightly enlarged scale observing the holding and storing device from the truncated front end.

FIG. 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view taken approximately on the plane of the section line 3-3 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the indicating arrows.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view on a slightly smaller scale showing the device itself with the lace and hat omitted.

As is evident from FIGS. 1 to 3, the aforementioned western hat is of a conventional or well-known type and is here conveniently denoted by the numeral 6. The high crown is designated at 8 and the complemental encompassing brim is denoted in FIG. 1 by the numeral 10. The rearward marginal edge of the brim is denoted at 12 and the forward end at 14. The forwardly converging turned-in or curled edge portions are denoted at 16 and assume the position and relationship shown particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2 when the hat is stored temporarily in the holding device. This device is denoted, generally stated, by the numeral 18. In practice it may be made from moldable plastic or other equivalent pliable sheet material and it comprises, as best shown in FIG. 4, a panel, that is a panel which embodies a body portion 20 having a rearward marginal edge 22 and a forward truncated apical end or edge 24. The major areas of the overall body portion are flat. The body portion can and preferably will be of uniform thickness. The integral longitudinal marginal edge portions of the body portion are provided with flanges which are appropriately designated here as opposed companion flaps 26. These flaps are integral with the marginal edge portions of the body portion and are commensurate in length with the overall body portion and have rearward relatively narrow ends 28 and relatively wide as well as higher end portions 30. These flaps are not only curled in to obtain the desired curvature and contour, they are bendably resilient and the forward corner portions 32 are provided with rows of apertures or holes 34 and, if desired, auxiliary holes 36. These holes or apertures provide eyes to accommodate the coacting portions of the tying element 38. This element is referred to broadly as a lace and its free end portions are laced back and forth through the holes or apertures 34 in the manner shown in FIG. 1 and so that the free end portions can be tied together in a' bow as denoted at 40. Thus the flaps are not only suitable to nest and sheath the curled brim portions 16, the corner portions can be drawn together and adjusted to suit the individual taste of the wearer who determines for him self the exact curl of the brim desired.

The body portion is provided with parallel transverse longitudinally spaced depending channel-shaped rigidifying ribs 42 and 44 with the channels opening upwardly and the ribs opening downwardly. The paired intervening spaced parallel additional ribs are denoted at 46 and 48. It will be noted that the intermediate or intervening channel-shaped ribs 46 and 48 have their channel portions opening downwardly and their rib or convex portions disposed upwardly whereby to serve as elevating rests for the supported portions of the brim of the hat as brought out in FIG. 3. These raised ribs so elevate the crown that the edge of the brim will not extend downward and have pressure on the horizontal surface.

By use of the cord or lace 38 the curl'ed portions can be pulled closer together until the desiredipressurejon the brim of the hat is attained. At such point thelac 3 can be tied or otherwise secured so that thesides hold the brim of the ha t in its predetermined and, desired user determines the exactcurl of the brim aswell as its forward and rearwarddownturned end portions 12 and r The foregoing isconsidered illustrativeonly of the 5 said corner portionstogeth e jand wherein thebbdy peti io of said panel is substeintially trtangularinplariythe major areal portions being 1 flat-facedajnd the forviard apical end being truncated.

4 .1 The de vicedefinedin and according to clairn 2, a and wherein the body portionof said panel is substann tially triangular in plan, the major areal portions being shape. As before mentioned, the individual taste of the principles of the invention Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readilyioccur totliose skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shownand described, and accordinglyall suitable mo dificationsa nd equivalents may be resorted to, falling withinth escope of the invention. l

What is claimed as neni i sasfollowsz l. A portable reusable holding, storing, shape taining device for a ,readilyapplicableand removable western hat comprising: a panel of a sizeandshape tof retentively accommodate said hat, said panel having a body portion atopwhich the brim ofsaidhat anbe, snpportively seated,thefopposite marginaljedge por-t V tions of said body portion having complemented means;jx for conformingly nesting and sheathingthecustoniary curled edge portions of said brim inaniannerto pre serve the given shape thereof, said'meariscoinprisin g a pair of contoured turneckiri flaps bordering, flanking, and overhanging said niarginal'edge portionmsaidflaps being yieldingly pliant, commensurate inlengthylitl'iv 35 height from their narrow rearward endpor tions tovvard 7 their progressively widened forward end portionsi j 2. The device defined in and according toclairn I, A r and wherein upper forward corner portionsof said flaps are provided with apertures, and,in combination,

1 a flexible flap tyingand adjusting lace threadedthrough I selected apertures inamannerto adjust andconnect If l the length of said paneland gradually increasing in ma -r Y flat-facecland theforwardapical end being truncated,

said body portion having transverse, longitudinally spacedchannebshaped rigidifying ribs, namely, outstanding forvvardandfrearward ribs and a pair of, up- 9 standing inbetweenribs ,the latter ribs providing rests forcoactingelevated portions of said brim. j S5. Aportablereusablestoring, holding, shape main- I: taining deiiicejfor a manually applicable and removable western ha tcomprising; a sheet material panelhaving a body portion substantially triangular in plan, said bodyfportion havinga rearward end, aforwardtrunl 1, catedjapicalend andforwardly converging longitudinal marginal:edgesfsaidmarginal edges having integral turned-in flaps,saidflapsbordering, flanking and over-fl V hanging the ,ojrientedr inarginal edges, being yieldingly pliant; and fbeing graduallyincreased in width from relativeynamw rearn ardends toward progressively wid- 6, Ihefdevice defined'inand accordingto arias;

and 1 wherein {upper} forward ,lco rner portionsof said 3 it Z J'Ilie device defined inand and uiherein saidbody portion is provided ivith parallel l ftransverse longitudinally spaced depending channel saidcorrierportions togethen according to claim r 6,"

shapedfrig'idifying ribs and; a pair of, parallel transverse longitudinally spacedcharinel shaped upstanding ribs situated between said first narned ribs and providing seatingandelevating rests forcoacting portions of said brin 3 l, 

1. A portable reusable holding, storing, shape maintaining device for a readily applicable and removable western hat comprising: a panel of a size and shape to retentively accommodate said hat, said panel having a body portion atop which the brim of said hat can be supportively seated, the opposite marginal edge portions of said body portion having complemental means for conformingly nesting and sheathing the customary curled edge portions of said brim in a manner to preserve the given shape thereof, said means comprising a pair of contoured turnedin flaps bordering, flanking and overhanging said marginal edge portions, said flaps being yieldingly pliant, commensurate in length with the length of said panel and gradually increasing in height from their narrow rearward end portions toward their progressively widened forward end portions.
 2. The device defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein upper forward corner portions of said flaps are provided with apertures, and, in combination, a flexible flap tying and adjusting lace threaded through selected apertures in a manner to adjust and connect said corner portions together.
 3. The device defined in and according to claim 2, and wherein the body portion of said panel is substantially triangular in plan, the major areal portions being flat-faced and the forward apical end being truncated.
 4. The device defined in and according to claim 2, and wherein the body portion of said panel is substantially triangular in plan, the major areal portions being flat-faced and the forward apical end being truncated, said body portion having transverse, longitudinally spaced channel-shaped rigidifying ribs, namely, outstanding forward and rearward ribs and a pair of upstanding inbetween ribs, the latter ribs providing rests for coacting elevated portions of said brim.
 5. A portable reusable storing, holding, shape maintaining device for a manually applicable and removable western hat comprising: a sheet material panel having a body portion substantially triangular in plan, said body portion having a rearward end, a forward truncated apical end and forwardly converging longitudinal marginal edges, said marginal edges having integral turned-in flaps, said flaps bordering, flanking and overhanging the oriented marginal edges, being yieldingly pliant, and being gradually increased in width from relatively narrow rearward ends toward progressively widened forward ends.
 6. The device defined in and according to claim 5, and wherein upper forward corner portions of said flaps are provided with apertures, and, in combination, a flexible flap tying and adjusting lace threaded through selected apertures in a manner to adjust and connect said corner portions together.
 7. The device defined in and according to claim 6, and wherein said body portion is provided with parallel transverse longitudinally spaced depending channel-shaped rigidifying ribs and a pair of parallel transverse longitudinally spaced channel-shaped upstanding ribs situated between said first-named ribs and providing seating and elevating rests for coacting portions of said brim. 